Atlético starts the season with the aim of improving last season, something that does not seem very complicated given that it was one of Simeone’s worst: third in the League and out of the Champions League at the first change as last in the group. Hours after the course starts, Atlético still does not know what to do with João Félix, whom Simeone does not want to see again and who could end up joining Barcelona.
In the preseason, with more than 30,000 kilometers traveled, an Atlético has not been very different. The biggest reinforcements have been made in defense, where he has signed Azpilicueta (Chelsea) and Soyuncu (Leicester). But the best news is the return of Jan Oblak, who, with back problems, missed many games in the final stretch of last season.
Atlético began to fuel in January and will try to continue the same: high pressure, play from behind without hitting the ball, the ball to Koke to distribute it helped by Mario Hermoso and long and offensive wingers. To play in this position, Atlético have recovered Riquelme (Girona) and Samuel Lino (Valencia). The two have adjusted well to their new role.
The star of the team is without question Griezmann, who moves freely along the entire front of the attack. Morata and Memphis Depay will continue to be the goal scorer, in what is supposed to be an intense fight to be Atlético’s starting center forward. With many physical problems last year, Memphis Depay has gotten into tune in a preseason in which Álvaro Morata has started three of the four games. Of course, without seeing the door, something that the former FC Barcelona player did against Manchester City in Seoul, although a few days later, in Mexico and against Real Sociedad, he missed a penalty thrown à la Panenka.
Another pending issue at the club is the renewal of Diego Simeone, whose contract ends in June 2024. Miguel Ángel Gil Marín wants it to continue, and negotiations can begin in October. It doesn’t seem that right now Cholo is about to leave the club of his life.
